The Night That Changed Everything

The humiliation of the birthday party lingered in Arya's mind for days, replaying over and over like a broken record. The sting of accusations, the whispers, and the piercing stares left her feeling hollow. For the first time in her life, she doubted herself. Why had she even stayed at the party? Why had she walked into a lion's den knowing the consequences?

Despite everything, Rohan's friendship remained unwavering. He reached out constantly, assuring her that things would settle, but Arya wasn't convinced. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Mr. Veer's cold expression as he told her to leave.

When Rohan invited her back to the Veer estate for a smaller gathering a week later, Arya refused. She couldn't put herself through the emotional turmoil again. But Rohan was persistent, insisting it was an informal dinner with just a few family friends.

"Come on, Arya," Rohan pleaded over the phone. "It'll be fine. No drama, no strangers—just a quiet evening. My dad won't bother you."

"Your dad's presence alone is enough to bother me," Arya said, her voice sharper than she intended.

Rohan sighed. "I get it, but he's not the monster you think he is. He's cautious, sure, but he respects people who stand their ground. Show him you're not afraid."

Arya hesitated. The logical part of her wanted to stay far away from the Veer estate, but a quieter, braver part of her wanted to confront everything head-on.

"Fine," she said finally. "I'll come. But if it turns into another circus, I'm leaving immediately."

"Deal," Rohan said, relief evident in his tone.

The evening began peacefully enough. Arya arrived at the Veer estate dressed in a simple blue dress, determined to keep a low profile. The dinner was hosted in the intimate dining room, a far cry from the grand hall where the disastrous birthday party had taken place.

The attendees were few—Rohan, Mr. Veer, and two of Mr. Veer's business associates. Rohan made a concerted effort to keep Arya included in the conversation, steering the topic toward lighter subjects like art and college life.

To her surprise, Mr. Veer was mostly quiet, observing rather than engaging. It unnerved Arya, but she decided to focus on enjoying the evening rather than worrying about his judgment.

After dinner, Rohan suggested they head to the family lounge to play a few games of cards. Arya agreed, eager to move away from the formal atmosphere of the dining table.

Halfway through their game, a knock at the door interrupted the quiet. A butler stepped in, murmuring something to Mr. Veer. His expression darkened, and he stood abruptly.

"Excuse me," he said curtly before leaving the room.

Arya glanced at Rohan. "What's going on?"

"No idea," Rohan said, his brow furrowing.

Moments later, a commotion erupted in the hallway. Raised voices, the sound of hurried footsteps—it was as if chaos had suddenly descended on the estate.

Rohan shot to his feet, and Arya followed him into the corridor. They found Mr. Veer speaking in hushed but firm tones to a group of security guards.

"What's happening?" Rohan asked, his tone laced with concern.

Mr. Veer turned to them, his expression grim. "There's been an incident. One of our guests has made threats against me."

Arya's stomach churned. "Threats? What kind of threats?"

"Blackmail," Mr. Veer said, his tone clipped. "And possibly worse."

Before anyone could respond, the lights in the hallway flickered, plunging them into semi-darkness. A cold shiver ran down Arya's spine as a tense silence settled over the group.

"We need to secure the house," Mr. Veer ordered the guards. "No one leaves until we've handled this."

Rohan turned to Arya. "Stay close to me."

But before they could move, the situation escalated. A loud crash echoed from somewhere deep within the estate, followed by the unmistakable sound of glass shattering.

"Dad!" Rohan exclaimed, panic creeping into his voice.

"Stay here," Mr. Veer barked, his authoritative tone brooking no argument.

But Rohan didn't listen. He grabbed Arya's hand and pulled her down the hallway, determined to find the source of the chaos.

They found themselves in the east wing of the estate, where the crash had come from. The once-pristine corridor was a mess—overturned vases, scattered papers, and broken glass littered the floor.

"This is insane," Arya whispered, her heart racing.

They followed the trail of destruction to one of the guest rooms, where they found a figure standing by the shattered window. It was the woman from the birthday party—the one who had accused Arya of scheming.

"You!" Rohan exclaimed, his voice filled with disbelief.

The woman turned to face them, her expression twisted with rage. In her hand, she held a small vial of liquid.

"This wasn't supposed to happen," she hissed. "He was supposed to see me, not you!"

Arya's blood ran cold. "What are you talking about?"

"Do you have any idea what you've done?" the woman spat. "You've ruined everything! I was supposed to be his choice. I was supposed to marry him!"

Rohan stepped forward, his fists clenched. "What the hell is wrong with you? This isn't a game!"

The woman laughed bitterly. "Oh, but it is. And you'll see just how far I'm willing to go to win."

Before anyone could react, she hurled the vial at Arya.

Instinctively, Rohan pushed Arya out of the way, but in doing so, he lost his balance and fell to the floor. The vial shattered against the wall, releasing a noxious gas that filled the room.

Arya scrambled to her feet, coughing as the gas stung her eyes and throat. She grabbed Rohan by the arm, helping him up as they stumbled out of the room.

The woman's laughter echoed behind them, but Arya didn't look back.

Back in the main hall, Mr. Veer was waiting with the security team. His expression darkened further when he saw Rohan and Arya's disheveled state.

"What happened?" he demanded.

Rohan explained everything, his voice hoarse from the gas. Mr. Veer's jaw tightened as he listened, his eyes flicking to Arya.

"You shouldn't have gone off on your own," he said sternly.

"We didn't have a choice," Arya shot back, her frustration boiling over. "We were trying to protect ourselves."

Mr. Veer's gaze softened slightly, but he said nothing more. Instead, he turned to the guards. "Find her and make sure this doesn't escalate further."

Later that night, as Arya sat in the quiet of her apartment, the events replayed in her mind. She couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning—that the chaos and danger were far from over.

And though she wanted to stay as far away from the Veer family as possible, she knew deep down that her connection to them—especially to Mr. Veer—was now unbreakable.

Even if it meant stepping into the fire, Arya was determined to face whatever came next.